Unstable air is typically associated with which type of precipitation?

Unstable air is characterized by strong vertical motion within the atmosphere, which can result in the rapid rising of warm air. This rising action leads to the development of convective clouds, such as cumulonimbus, which are capable of producing showery precipitation. Showery precipitation is typically characterized by brief, intense downpours that can vary in intensity and duration, closely aligning with the behavior of unstable air masses.

In contrast, continuous light rain often occurs in more stable air, where the conditions allow for widespread, continuous precipitation but with much less intensity than what unstable conditions produce. Steady snow generally falls in situations where temperature conditions favor stable environments, inhibiting the strong vertical motion that leads to more dynamic, convective weather patterns. Fog and mist are typically associated with very stable air near the surface, where moisture accumulates slowly and does not involve the vertical lift necessary to generate showery precipitation. Therefore, the characteristics of unstable air are best represented by the option of showery precipitation.